Worry-free inflatable cover

ABSTRACT

An assembly includes an inflatable, dome-like cover that is configured to rest atop an existing swimming pool. The cover has an inflatable portion that repels dirt, debris, water, and snow, preventing such debris from collecting thereon. The cover is produced from heavy duty, yet lightweight plastic or rubber material. The cover may sized and configured to fit a pool of any dimensions. Extending along a perimeter of the inflatable portion is a border about which openings are evenly spaced, through which tethers or cords may be tied for securing the assembly to the pool. At least one air valve is positioned proximal to the outer edge of the cover, enabling a user to inflate the assembly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims benefit of co-pending U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/803,285, filed with the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office on May 26, 2006 by the inventors herein, thespecification of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to pool covers and, more particularly, to aninflatable pool cover for preventing debris from entering a pool whilesimultaneously preventing fluids and debris from collecting on top ofthe pool cover for allowing user to easily remove the pool cover whendesired.

2. Background

A favorite summertime activity enjoyed by millions of American consumersis going to a public or private swimming pool. A great way to beat thesummer heat, spending time poolside can help ease the stresses of dailylife, leaving one tanned, relaxed, and well rested. For children,aquatic activities are especially popular and long hours are spentsplashing in the water and playing spirited games of “water tag” and“Marco Polo” with family and friends.

Because swimming, playing or simply relaxing by a pool is such anenjoyable way in which to spend free time, many consumers opt to have anin-ground or aboveground swimming pool installed right in their ownbackyard. In fact, according to the National Pool and Spa Institute,nearly fifteen million households boast a residential swimming pool. Whyare residential swimming pools so popular? Perhaps it is because theyenable consumers to enjoy a variety of aquatic activities, without everleaving their home. A practical alternative to transporting a carloadfull of kids, water toys, snacks, towels, and similar amenities to alocal swimming pool, only to find that the pool is overcrowded withusers, or in worse case scenario, closed to the public, owning aresidential swimming pool allows consumers to step outside their backdoor and enjoy a quick swim, whenever desired.

Additionally, considering that the cost of constructing a swimming pool,particularly above-ground pools, is very reasonable, many consumers findthat installing a residential swimming pool in their backyards is anaffordable endeavor.

While there is little dispute that residential swimming pools provideconsumers hours of summertime fun, their use is not without drawbacks.During the “off” seasons of autumn, winter and early spring, mostswimming pool owners cover their pool with a thick plastic cover.

The usual winterizing procedure for a swimming pool involves cleaningthe pool and applying chemicals to keep the water free from algae andbacteria. The chemicals may also include an antifreezing agent to keepthe water from freezing with the concomitant expansion of the ice, whichcould burst the pool walls. Typically, an inflated plastic balloon isthen placed on the surface of the water and secured in place at thecenter of the pool. Then, a cover, such as a tarp, is pulled over theinflated balloon. When the tarp is finally manipulated into its finalposition, it is secured in place by tying or anchoring it to the sideand/or the deck of the pool. Plastic pool covers are practical in thatthey prevent leaves, branches, snow, and rainwater from entering thepool, creating a soupy green mess, and damaging the interior andoperational mechanics of the pool. Unfortunately, because of their veryfunction, removing a pool cover at the start of a summer season can beextremely difficult. As many pool owners would attest, attempting topull a cover, loaded with broken twigs, soggy leaves, particles of paperand similar debris, and which is heavily weighted with gallons ofrainwater and melted snow, without spilling the contents of the coverinto the swimming pool, can be nearly impossible. Requiring the awkwardremoval of this debris before the cover can be lifted from the pool,preparing a swimming pool for summertime use can be an extreme hassle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a need remains for an inflatable pool cover in order toovercome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfiessuch a need by providing a pool cover that is convenient and easy touse, is durable yet lightweight in design, and offers the owners ofresidential and commercial swimming pools a simple and efficient meansof preventing debris from collecting on their pool cover during wintermonths. Use of the inflatable cover advantageously ensures that the poolremains clean and free of debris. Furthermore, the assembly alsoprevents heavy rainwater, melted snow, and sleet from collecting on thetop of the cover, thus enabling consumers to remove their pool cover ina quick and easy manner. Ideal for use with both aboveground andin-ground swimming pools, the inflatable cover is versatile and serves avariety of useful applications.

The various features of novelty that characterize the invention will bepointed out with particularity in the claims of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention are considered in more detail, in relation to the followingdescription of embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inflatable cover according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the inflatable cover of FIG. 1 in aninstalled configuration according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a holding ring according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an installedinflatable cover according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The invention summarized above and defined by the enumerated claims maybe understood by referring to the following description, which should beread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which likereference numbers are used for like parts. This description of anembodiment, set out below to enable one to build and use animplementation of the invention, is not intended to limit the enumeratedclaims, but to serve as a particular example thereof. Those skilled inthe art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception andspecific embodiments disclosed as a basis for modifying or designingother methods and systems for carrying out the same purposes of thepresent invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize thatsuch equivalent assemblies do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe invention in its broadest form.

The figures generally include various perspective and cross-sectionalviews showing an inflatable cover, in accordance with the presentinvention. The assembly of this invention is referred to generally inthe figures and is intended to provide an inflatable cover, particularlyfor pools and hot tubs. It should be understood that the assembly may beused to cover many different types of pools and should not be limited inuse to only residential aboveground pools. The inflatable coverdescribed herein can also be used for in-ground and commercial pools, aswell as hot tubs, fountains, fishpond, and the like.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover assembly, indicated generally as10, includes an inflatable, dome-like sheet 13 that is configured torest atop an existing swimming pool 16. The dome-like sheet 13 has a toplayer 20 and a bottom layer 22, creating a single inflatable chamber 25therebetween. The top layer 20 and bottom layer 22 are connected andsealed only along an outer periphery 26 of both by heat sealing, sonicwelding, adhesives, or other conventional techniques. The dome-likesheet 13 is produced from heavy duty, yet lightweight plastic or rubbermaterial, which is well suited for extended periods of outdoor use. Fora round pool, the dome-like sheet 13 has a substantially circular shape.In a particular embodiment, the cover assembly 10 measures approximatelytwenty-one feet (21′) in diameter, wherein the inflatable portion of thecover assembly 10 measures approximately twenty feet, two inches(20′2″). Of course, the cover assembly 10 may be produced in a varietyof sizes and shapes appropriate for use with various aboveground andin-ground swimming pools, as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill inthe art. For example, the cover assembly 10 may be configured forcircular, rectangular, kidney, or oval-shaped pools and sized toaccommodate pools of various dimensions.

Extending along a perimeter of the cover assembly 10 is a border 28,which may be an extension or the top layer 20 or bottom layer 22.Alternatively, the extension 28 may be a separate piece attached aboutthe outer periphery 26. The border 28 is approximately ten inches wide.Of course, other widths for the border 28 can be used as is obvious to aperson of ordinary skill in the art. A plurality of openings 31 may beequidistantly spaced around the border 28. In a preferred embodiment,the openings 31 are circular shaped and may be fitted with grommets foruse with a tether or cable for conveniently and effectively securing thecover assembly 10 to the sides of the pool 16. The tether or cable canbe threaded into the plurality of openings 31. In some embodiments, thecover assembly 10 is sized and configured to fit over the top edge of awall of the pool 16. In such embodiment, the cover assembly 10 of thepresent invention can substitute for a conventional pool cover. In analternate embodiment, the cover assembly 10 is sized and configured tofit inside the top edge of the pool. In such alternate embodiment, thecover assembly 10 of the present invention is used with a conventionalpool cover.

Referring to FIG. 3, at least one air valve 34 a positioned proximal tothe outer edge of the dome-like sheet 13. Generally, the air valve 34would be circular shaped; however, other shapes may be used. Said atleast one air valve 34 is connected to an opening 37 in the top layer20. Air valve 34 can be positioned in a first (open) position and asecond (closed) position. In the first (open) position, the air valve 34provides an opening to enable air to be admitted into chamber 25. In thesecond (closed) position, the air valve 34 provides a seal to preventair within the chamber 25 from leaking out of the chamber 25. The atleast one air valve 34 is configured so that it can be attached to anair pump 40. The at least one air valve 34 is used in conjunction withair pump 40, thus advantageously enabling a user to quickly and easilyinflate the cover assembly 10. In a preferred embodiment, the air pump40 could be included for sale with the cover assembly, as is obvious toa person of ordinary skill in the art. In some embodiments, the air pump40 may be electrically operated, powered by a cord or by battery. Inother embodiments, the air pump 40 may be manually operated.

In use, the cover assembly 10 is very simple and straightforward tooperate. First, the user purchases a cover assembly 10 sized andconfigured in accordance with the size and shape of their pool or hottub. After preparing their pool for the winter months by conditioningthe water, the user positions the cover assembly 10 so that it restsdirectly above the pool 16, then attaches a cable around the pool 16through the openings 31, see FIG. 4. In an embodiment where the coverassembly 10 fits inside the top edge of the pool 16, the user shouldplace a conventional cover over the pool before positioning the coverassembly 10 on the pool 16. Next, using an air pump 40, the user fillsthe inflatable chamber 25 of the cover assembly 10 with air. Onceinflated, the dome-like sheet 13 assumes a convex shape that effectivelyprovides an impenetrable umbrella, which completely shrouds the pool,while effectively repelling debris, rainwater, and snow, which isessential for preventing debris from collecting on the top surface ofthe cover assembly 10. After proper installation, the cover assembly 10is left in place throughout the autumn, winter, and early months ofspring, conveniently protecting the pool until the weather is warmenough to prepare the pool for use. After use, the cover assembly 10 isquickly and easily deflated by opening the at least one air valve 34,and the cover assembly 10 is removed and stored away along with otherpool accessories, until again needed.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain specificembodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changesmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appendedclaims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, with respect tothe above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the present invention may includevariations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner ofoperation. The assembly and use of the present invention are deemedreadily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art.

It should be recognized that, in the light of the above teachings, thoseskilled in the art can modify those specifics without departing from theinvention taught herein. Having now fully set forth the preferredembodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying thepresent invention, various other embodiments as well as certainvariations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown anddescribed will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becomingfamiliar with such underlying concept. It should be understood,therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically set forth herein. Consequently, the present embodiments areto be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

1. An inflatable cover for preventing debris from entering a pool orlike body of water while simultaneously preventing fluids and debrisfrom collecting on top of the cover, said cover comprising: a dome-likesheet, comprising: (1) a top layer; and (2) a bottom layer said toplayer and bottom layer connected and sealed only along an outerperiphery of said top layer and bottom layer forming a chambertherebetween; and at least one air valve proximal to an outer edge ofsaid dome-like sheet.
 2. The inflatable cover according to claim 1,further comprising: a border extending along a perimeter of saiddome-like sheet.
 3. The inflatable cover according to claim 2, furthercomprising: a plurality of openings spaced around said border.
 4. Theinflatable cover according to claim 3, wherein said plurality ofopenings are fitted with grommets.
 5. The inflatable cover according toclaim 3, further comprising: a tether threaded in said plurality ofopenings.
 6. The inflatable cover according to claim 1, wherein said toplayer and said bottom layer are sealed by a process selected from thegroup consisting of: heat sealing; adhesive; and sonic welding.
 7. Theinflatable cover according to claim 1, wherein, in a first position,said at least one air valve provides an opening to enable air to beadmitted to said chamber.
 8. The inflatable cover according to claim 1,wherein, in a second position, said at least one air valve provides aseal to prevent air within said chamber from leaking out of saidchamber.
 9. The inflatable cover according to claim 1, wherein said atleast one air valve can be attached to an air pump.